GOLDEN WORDS

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman

February 16

"...I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God..." 2 Timothy 1:6; "...Your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action" 2 Corinthians 9:2c.

"Every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is the triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it." Ralph Waldo Emerson. An unknown old timer discerned that "It is when the coals are not only kindled, but put together, that the fire burns clear and bright, and gives forth its genial warmth."

Enthusiasm is the right combination of love, faith, hope, endurance, imagination, initiative and people. It forges through the obstacles of opposition, prejudice, inaction and indifference symptoms of fear and laziness in thought, word and deed to come up with more realistic and idealistic concepts.

An interesting illustration of fervor in the Bible is Mark 11:8: "Many spread their cloaks on the road..." The crowd was excited when Jesus entered Jerusalem. In their enthusiasm they shouted "Hosanna!" and some spread their cloaks and some spread branches. It was a joyous occasion and the mostly poor but spirited crowd honored Jesus. But lo! we find the crowd shouting just as vociferously and passionately only a few days later, "Crucify him!" Mark 15:13. What a terrible dichotomy! "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing" James 3:10. John Wesley tried to convince his sister that the voice of the people is the voice of God. His sister finally quietly said to him, "Yes, it cried, `Crucify Him, crucify Him.'"

It is either love or hate that gives the spark to enthusiasm; we have either divine or base motives for what we do. We can put our car into neutral but not our heart, for it is from the heart that the issues of life, good and bad, are pursued and decided. "My heart is stirred by a noble theme..." Psalm 45:1. Hearts can be stirred by ignoble themes, too. The professing Christian will discover the good sparks in God's Word.

Pat Nordman ©

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for February 16		Spurgeon's Evening February 16
"I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content." - Philippians 4:11
Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually.		"Thy good Spirit." -  Nehemiah 9:20
		Common, too common is the sin of forgetting the Holy Spirit. ... As God, he is good essentially. He shares in the threefold ascription of Holy, holy, holy, which ascends to the Triune Jehovah.

 

T H I N K A B O U T I T

A Special Love John Haggai in his book Lead On tells about Dr. Claude H. Barlow, a missionary to China and one of the most revered foreigners to work in that land. A strange disease for which he knew no remedy was killing people. There were no research laboratories for this disease, so Dr. Barlow conducted his own research. He studied the disease, filling a notebook with his observations. He then procured a vial of disease germs and sailed for the United States. Before he arrived, he took the germs into his own body, then went to the John Hopkins University Hospital to be observed. Claude Barlow was very sick now. He allowed his old professors at John Hopkins to use him for experimentation. A cure was found, which a healthy Claude Barlow took back to China with him. His efforts saved countless lives. When asked about the experience, Dr. Barlow replied, "Anyone would have done the same thing. I happened to be in a position of vantage and had the chance to offer my body." I doubt that just anyone would have done that, don't you? Only a person with a very special kind of love in his or her heart would make that kind of sacrifice. It is that very special kind of love proceeding from the heart of God that determined to make a supreme sacrifice so that you might be saved. Without that love we would all still be orphans in a strange and hostile universe. But that love does exist. It exists in the church . . . it exists among people around this earth who have had an encounter with Jesus.

 

February 16 Numbers 3:1 - 4:49 Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

 

 

Today's  Devotion

 

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. Job 16:5 (NIV) WHO by Cathy Vinson This whole life, Jesus comes to you to draw you into the cords of relationship. "Meekly" He comes. Every need in your life is based upon this Him, this Who. Nothing is impersonal. He gently comes and with each step "my heart began to pound ('bowels moved' KJV)" (S of S 5:4). Will we attribute our source of help to a Person? Not a thing or a condition, for "He has done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm have gotten Him the victory" (Ps 98:1). The multitudes came honoring to the Man Christ that day - joyful before and behind, spreading out garments, cutting down branches, strewing them down together unto Him, the Person. The focused praise elicited a response from the city. It wasn't "What is happening?," but "WHO is this?" (Mt 21:10). How can we speak forth a life so others will ask "Who?" It is Him. He who rides "coming to you." Do you see Him? Never one so gentle. Never one so inherently the God-Man. Never before your eyes has the One come who all your springs are rightly poured upon. There He is. The Man it all rests upon. Respond to Him. Mary when secretly called to the Master in John 11: 25-31, "rose up quickly and came to Him." The Jews noticed. They noticed how..."when seeing how quickly she rose up and went out, (they) followed her." How do we get a following? The King is coming this way. Receive Him! "See, your King comes to you, gentle..." (Zech 9:9, Mt 21:5)   How can we speak forth a life so others will ask "Who?"   Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion. Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

 

 

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Copyright Information: Phillip Bower is not the author of the humor, and does not claim to own any copyright privileges to the jokes. Sources of jokes are listed when known. Birthday's and Happenings for the date, and quotations are public knowledge and collected from numerous sources. Quotations are public knowledge and sources are listed when known. Weekendspirations are written by Tim Knappenberger who has copyright privileges. Cathy Vinson authors Whispers from the Wilderness and owns copyright privileges. Weekendspirations and Whispers from the Wilderness are used with permission by the respective authors. Other devotions are written by Phillip Bower unless otherwise stated. In all cases credit is given when known. The Daily Miscellany is nonprofit. Submissions by readers is welcome.